Depending on where you live, and exactly what you decide to live in, the answer could be yes. In fact, a growing number of city and county zoning agencies around the world are implementing ordinances to crack down on off-grid living, in many cases making it a crime.
Over the years we’ve covered numerous examples of how government officials from around the world have been systematically targeting those who choose to live an off the grid lifestyle.
From targeting self-reliant homeowners with antiquated zoning laws and regulations to forming special zoning boards that are designed to force people back onto the grid, there seems to be a war against self-reliance, and sadly it seems like the government in many cases is winning.
Living off the grid Illegal in many areas of the United States
Throughout the United States, government agencies are forming so-called “nuisance abatement teams” designed to intimidate and force Off Grid homeowners into giving up their land or abandoning their lifestyle. Believe it or not, people are actually being fined and jailed for choosing to live an off-grid existence.
From Costilla County, Colorado trying to ban people from building off-grid homes or camping on their own land to the federal government actually trying to make it illegal to live in a tiny house or off-the-grid RV, there are a growing number of government agencies attempting to regulate this lifestyle out of existence.
While the mainstream media continues to ignore the problem, a couple of independent media organizations and a few reporters have taken notice, and over the years we’ve tried to shine a spotlight on the problem. One of the first cases we covered was the story of how Off Grid enthusiasts in California were being harassed and targeted by their local government officials.null
Off grid Homeowners intimidated into to hooking back into the grid.
There are literally thousands of examples of people who have been harassed, threatened and even fined and jailed for going off the grid. Here are some examples:
The Deserts of Los Angeles County, California
The deserts of Los Angeles County, California used to be a sort of mecca for those looking to live a more self-reliant lifestyle. But just like so many areas of the country, these Off-Grid residents are being targeted, arrested, and intimidated into to hooking back into the grid.
A couple of years back, Reason Magazine took a film crew out to one of these secluded desert towns in California and filmed some of the off-grid residents. From being threatened with jail time if they didn’t hook back into the grid, to actually being thrown in jail because the county didn’t like the look of their homes or land, the people in the deserts of Los Angeles County are being terrorized by their local government.
Instituted in 2006 by Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovich, the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors’ Nuisance Abatement Teams have been targeting and jailing residents for victimless misdemeanors and code violations.
Code enforcement teams have been hitting unincorporated areas of L.A. County hard, leaving local off-gridders unsure of what the future holds. Residents are scared that they may lose not only their homes but their freedom as well.
The case of Robin Speronis in Cape Coral City, Florida
Robin Speronis tried to go off the grid in Cape Coral City, Florida. She was cited by the city for using rainwater, using solar power, not being connected to an approved water supply, and being in violation of in violation of the International Property Maintenance code. She was eventually thrown in jail and evicted from her home.
Vet who fought for our country, Thrown in Jail for Living ‘Off The Grid’
In November 2016, Tyler Truitt, a veteran, was thrown in jail for violating a city zoning ordinance.
“We live out here off the grid, 100 percent self-sustaining,” Truitt said. “So I basically made all my utilities: I have my solar panels, I have my rainwater collection and stuff. ” took an oath that I would support and defend the constitution and the freedoms that entails, and I really feel like those are being trampled upon.”
Is it really your land? According to most zoning officials, you need to follow their rules!
On top of using size restrictions to limit what off-grid home owners can live in, towns throughout the U.S. are also targeting mobile homes. In many areas, houses are required to built on a foundation and hooked up to public utilities.
Unfortunately, that piece of freedom that you bought might not be so free. If your land is not zoned for recreational vehicle living, off grid living, or camping you may be in for some serious trouble.
It’s a sad day when living off your own land becomes a crime. Please spread the word because cases like this are increasing at an alarming rate.
Sad… we all need to become our own lawyers. When something like this happens, we are going to have to learn the laws of the particulars of inmediatelly hire an attorney. These people can’t afford an attorney, this is why that town is getting away with it. On their meeting, was there an attorney with them??? That would have made a huge difference. Contact all tv channels for this. Use facebook now.
OCCUPY the DESERT (in fac e book)
There is no justice, there is only just us.
What a sad reflection of a Republic we have become because of liberals.
It has long been my assertion that if one can only afford a cardboard box, by god they should be allowed to live in it.
Well, in South Africa you will NOT get an NPO (charity) number, to enable you to raise funds, IF you help white people. A declaration in government was signed, saying that you will only get an NPO number, if you DO NOT assist whites with the funds. If you do help whites, you face jail time, and you will loose your NPO number.
In South Africa charities are prohibited from assisting whites, and they will lose their NPO number, plus they will face jail time. Whites are not entitled on charity, pushed out of the workforce by a lot of goons etc. You will not get an NPO number either if you are planning to do charity work under whites.
Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!
OCCUPY ANTELOPE VALLEY!!!
Please help these people to reach out to Occupy LA and other Occupy groups nearby. Use the power of community to pressure the county. Goddess bless these folks.
LA county is the ONLY place in the S.Cal desert that has this sort of thing going on. When I inquired about getting electric to a piece of property, they told me that the 1000 ft. run would cost some $50,000 — fifty dollars per linear foot! (I can build a simple home for $50 a SQUARE foot!
These strong-arm tactics cannot be tolerated!
so you guys cleaned out the natives that lived free from the land n now you are all upset cos the beau ok crazy is tellin you what not ha fukn ha. ooo it wasnt us!
Ok….wwwwwww……ttttttt…….fffffff…..
C’mon Militias…Here’s your chance to protect our own, and put into practice what you’ve been working for…This is just another way Government rule will win over us, and then we will all be slaves to this government of ours…I’m sure nobody wants this government anymore, just as the middle east people fought for Egypt so recent…It’s going to happen here soon. and this is just the trigger needed to start the ball rolling…Last nights debates were a joke…Every person running or trying to win the Rep vote says not one word of what they want to do for us… It’s just a mud slinging battle between each of them that goes on at every debate now…If we’re ever to take back our America the time is now, before they sell us out to China or some other foreign government…
LOCK and LOAD! These a-holes need to be brought back to reality! Private Property is just that PRIVATE PROPERTY! Trespassers will be shot on sight! In this case the sword is mightier then the pen!
they absolutely have plans for redeveloping the land..there is water, etc. and population growth is going to demand expansion in LA county. this is so sad.
Do something.. you know who is bullying you people out of your property rights.. Take away something from them!!!!!! Learn some law and do not let those freaks on your property or else.. Look you people have the right to “defend yourselves and your property”.. If you arm yourselves and get your neighbors / friends involved with their own vests on and weaponry it will make the “county” thugs and that is what they are thugs.. think twice… The other option is lay down and let them walk all over you… this is how I see it after watching the videos.. oh yes make videos too..
There’s a time for talking and there’s a time for fighting and frankly across this country the day to fight is quickly approaching. Exercise your 2nd amendment and open carry if legal in your area. Let the government think twice before try oppress our rights. Give me freedom or give me death!
This is the most illegal action ever done by a state government..and I agree with most everyone on this comment site..it’s completely for their own profit that these decent self sufficient citizens are being bullied off their own land..I am so disgusted…I lived in CA most of my life and now I’m ashamed of it…these people don’t have a chance..when it comes to millions or billions if profits..the local government wont hesitate to murder anyone who tries to defend their land and homes…they can make laws all day long to support their own greed…laws are just being made to make them richer and us poorer.. so when can the rest of us expect this to happen in our states???
This happens all over the country, I have just spent the last six months in such a battle.
I can’t believe that is has come to this, but then again I can. Our country is becoming communist to the point of government control. It’s a shame that the AMERICAN DREAM is being taken away from citizens who are just trying to make a way for themselves. Living off the land is the American way, but it looks like being a pioneer today is against the law. We need to start a petition on this and present it to state representatives of any state that is rejecting this way of life! The way our cities started out since the discovery of this nation is now being banned…wow! It’s all about the government not making money off these people.
This smells an awful lot like a “Sustainable Development” plan according to “Agenda 21” of the UN. Seriously. The plan is to basically depopulate the countryside and “pack and stack” people.
Google it. Don’t take my word for anything.
stoive is right, it was only a matter of time. they did it and still are doing it to the native americans and nobody would give a damn. now people are wondering that the greed and the fascism within the system didn’t stop in front of the “AMERICAN DREAM”. this is the american way the AMERICAN DREAM: take what you want, when you want. it was the american way when the first white settlers came to america and did not pay respect to the property of the peoples already living on the continent. it is the american way all over the world and it is the system americans supported for centuries and now you are wondering that this greedy imperialistic system is turning against yourself. it is only eating its own children. it is the result of decades of laissez-faire mentality in the US and the most comments here are proposing not to change this system or to abolish it but to strengthen it. “AMERICAN DREAM” and “LOCK and LOAD!” is what produced the kind of people sitting in the very same government which is now turning against you… but don’t mind me. i’m just pointing you out a fishy european point of view.